Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-06-04

SHARPSBURG. MONDAY, May 0U.-
The flower strewing took place at
Sharpsburg. Several thousand per-
sons were there and the day seemed
to be made to order for the occasion,
q cool, moist breese famed away the
effect of the too ardent rays of the
May sun, and owing to tie recent
rains the roads were dustless. AS we
entered the Cemetery things that
attracted us were the lovely trees, the
closely mown grass, as fresh and
beautiful and as clean as new Brus-
sells carpet, not dry leaf nor stick
could be found. What care and labor
it must take to keep it so clean and
inviting. To the right a small cot
tage stood. To the left a few yards
from the path, the Pavilli0n,-vine
covered and adorned with hanging
baskets Of bright colored flowers. A
little farther on the flag staff and
mound, then tablets of iron inscribed
with beautiful and appropriate tri-
butes to the dead, and now the almost
countless marble slabs arranged all
in exact order in circles around the
Grand Soldier, standing ION pedes-
tall probably sixty feet from the
ground. AS work of art it is simply
perfect. Does it not seem that liv-
ing heart throbs within that soldiers
breast and kindles the patriotic fires
that fash from his expressive eyes :?
Do look at that smile of welcome he
seems to bestow on the loyal hearts
that with measured and solemn tread
approach the graves of his sleeping
comrades and reverently place their
flowers there? Does the voice come
as it looks toward the battle fields /:
" Ye do well to honor the heroes who
offered up their lives willing sacri-
fee that your Union be not broken,
that your heritage of liberty be left to
you untarnished.n Once around the
ground and we enter the Pavilion
where the Sharpsburg choir are sing
ing How sleep the brave" The
song ceases and a prayer is offered.
If we heard Alright gentleman by
the name of McComas introduced
Chief Marshal Vernen, who made an
excellent speech, embellished with
poetry, which touched the heart be-
cause it came from the heart. Mr..
McComas then introduced Gen. VIM.
e. Mclean, whose military bearing,
fine face, flashing eyes and clear, deep,
earnest tones caught and held the at
tention of the vast multitude through
lengthy, eloquent and intensely in
teresting address. This was followed
by song by the choir "Cheers and
Tears" Miss Shelman, from Fred
eric, Md, read an original poem COM
posed for the occasion. This was
followed by Mr.. McComas in a short
but eloquent address, delivered in a
mastery manner and in such clear,
full tones that every word was dis
tinctly heard. Other speeches, fol-
lowed in short we had an intel.
lectual feast. And turning from this
feast of the soul we began to feast
our eyes on the beautiful women in
the throng, and after careful survey
of the multitude we must confess that
the quaker women, thickly sprinkled
among the rest of the crowd, were
the healthiest, rosiest, best develop
ed, loveliest women on the ground.
When will girls ever realize that
pinching round the waist by tight
clothing makes pale faces, ashy lips,
sallow complexion and unattractive
forms. There is a crying necessity
for a dress reform. Why don't some
one. take the lead? The quaker suits
are too painfully plain for the average
dashy and airy American girl,
although we have not doubt that in
the Quakers' common sense way of
dressing lies the secret charm of
their brilliant, glowing faces. We
would not think of adopting it as our
own, but we are tired of the heavy
weight of dress that is dragging our
lives out with its clinging, heavy
folds. Three questions perplex us,
How to live; what to wear, and how
to die without dying by inches. En-
tighten who can. LOT.